Part of the progress in the gay scene is thanks to our “Elders” who have always stood up for our rights. On 16 May, as part of “Honour Our LGBT Elders Day” we honour thousands of people from the LGBT community whose struggle for greater social acceptance and equality has made a difference to our gay world today.
Of course, standing up for equality in our scene is still important. Nevertheless, we use this day to simply say “thank you” to the older ones and to look back on the time!
Gay-ness of the older generation
Perhaps you have already had to endure hostility as a gay person or have been ostracised because of your sexuality, because it is unfortunately the case that even in the 21st century many homosexual people have these experiences. There is also a group that has had a much harder time than young gays in modern civil society. We are talking about the “Elders”, who were and are exposed to many stigmatisations.
Today, it is natural for you to order anal sex toys online to have fun with your lover. But for previous generations, that was unthinkable! But of course, there were more serious problems that these people had to deal with. Therefore, let’s mention a few names that have done a lot for us and our scene:
Gilbert Baker – activist and rainbow flag shaker
Born in 1951, Gilbert Baker is still known today for inventing the original rainbow flag. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and moved to San Francisco after the fighting. There he began joining the gay rights movement and campaigning for gay rights. Rainbow flag, which was first presented at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day in 1978. Gradually, it has conquered the scene and is now known worldwide.
All his life, Baker fought for gay rights and his legacy lives on in all of us as we proudly wave the rainbow flag!
Gay Pride march in New York remember them for LGBT Elders Day
LGBTQ activist John Paul Hudson played a particularly important role in organising the Gay Pride March in New York. It first took place a year after the Stonewall riots, led by Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DelArverie and Miss Major Griffin-Gracey, and marked the beginning of annual Pride events worldwide.
Hudson was the main organiser of the march and was appointed the first Grand Marshal. His dedication and involvement with the LGBTQ+ community helped raise awareness of gay rights.
LGBT Elders Day: We owe it to the ancients – and we don’t forget
We owe a lot to our “Elders” in today’s LGBTQ+ scene, and that should never be forgotten. Earlier generations lived in times when the fight for equality came with significant consequences. At worst, it was dangerous for the elders to be open about their sexuality. Nevertheless, they never gave up and created milestones from which we all benefit to this day.
For example, consider the founding of the Society for Human Rights in 1924 by Henry Gerber. It was the first organisation with the aim of making people aware of gay and lesbian rights. Its members were hounded by the police for a long time, until the organisation was finally disbanded.
On 28 June 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, many people rioted against the state’s injustice against homosexuals. The riots lasted for several days and are still considered a milestone and turning point in the history of the LGBTQ+ scene. A year later, the New York marches began. Without the courage of the old people, none of this would have worked.
We owe it to the unshakeable commitment of the older generations that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses in 1973! Can you believe that people were still officially considered mentally ill because of their sexuality in 1972?
The Old-Gays – a TikTok phenomenon for more visibility
Even today, there are some “elders” who contribute a lot to our acceptance. Here we think of the “Old Gays”, four gay men who became famous via TikTok. Mick, Robert, Bill and Norm call themselves “Old Gays” and in their videos they talk about their lives and experiences as gay men in a funny but honest way.
They are enlightening, entertaining and also address topics that are often forgotten. In doing so, they hit a nerve, as they now have around a trillion subscribers on TikTok and other social media platforms (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Gays) and inspire countless people.
LGBTQ rights activists deserve our recognition
With #HonorOurLGBTeldersDay, we set an important sign of gratitude and solidarity with our “elders”. They fought, for themselves, for you and for all those who feel part of the LGBTQ+ scene. This deserves attention, gratitude and above all honour!
|